Microsoft investigating Windows 7 battery issues

Microsoft has said that it's probing reports that Windows 7 is falsely reporting problems with batteries. Many users have complained that the OS warns that power is exhausted before it is, and even that the battery needs to be replaced entirely.

The software manufacturer has tried to shift the blame on hardware manufacturers, saying: "The warning received in Windows 7 uses firmware information to determine if battery replacement is needed", however it seems that users are experiencing the same problems across a range of models including Acer, Dell, HP, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba.

Microsoft is looking into a common cause for the issue, posting on a thread on its support site: "We are working with our partners to determine the root cause and will update the [support] forum with information and guidance as it becomes available".